Tobacco tin or box



J. M. HEASLEY.

TOBACCO TIN 0R BOX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.I7,I917. RENEWED SEPT 1,336,228.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

WITNESSES INVENTOR JACOB M. HEASLEY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

TOBACCO TIN QR BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

Application filed February 17, 1917, Serial No. 149,174; Renewed September 16, 1919. Serial No. 324,221.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAooB M. HEASLEY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Pittsburgh, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tobacco Tins or Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

It is an object of my invention to provide a tobacco tin, or other container, which 18 so constructed that after the original contents have been removed therefrom, the container may be readily converted into a permanently locked receiver which cannot be opened without mutilating the same.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a construction for containers of that type which are not legally refillable after the original contents have been removed, which will prevent the necessity of discarding them and permit their continued use for other purposes.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a construction of lid or cover for containers whereby the same can be permanently locked into closed position on the container.

Referring to the accompanying draw- 1ngs:

Figure 1, is a side elevation of one type of container to which my invention is ap plicable.

Fig. 2, is a side elevation of a container constructed and provided with a lid or cover constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 3, is a side elevation of a container cover constructed according to my invention and showing the locking tongue thereof.

Fig. 4, is a vertical transverse section of a box embodying my invention.

In the particular example illustrated by the accompanying drawings, I have shown a type of tobacco box constructed according to my invention.

It is customary, and very often has been necessary, to discard or destroy certain original containers, particularly where it is unlawful to refill them after the original contents have been removed and my invention provides a construction of these original packages whereby they may be used as containers for other and legal purposes.

The drawings illustrate a tobacco tinor box which is constructed in such a manner that after the removal of the original contents the box can be converted into a savings bank.

However, I do not wish to limit myself to any particular use to which the containers are put, as it is evident that they can be put to a great variety of uses which would be legal for an emptied original package.

I have shown the container 4, provided with the hinged lid or cover 5. The container 4 is constructed similar to the well known types of tobacco, or the like boxes. The lid or cover 5 is hinged at 6 and is provided with a tongue or car 1 extending from one edge of the side opposite the hinge point 6. The container 4 is provided with a slot 3 a distance below the lower edge of cover 5 and a slot 2 parallel with slot 3 and a distance above the same, and located approximately in the plane of the lower edge of cover 5 when in closed position.

In the particular example illustrated, the tongue 1 of cover 5 depends across the slot 2 and terminates approximately at slot when the cover is in closed position. After the contents of the box have been removed and it is desired to permanently fasten or look the cover on the container in closed position, the tongue 1 is inserted in and through slot 2 and assumes the approximate position shown by dotted line 1 in Fig. 4. Any suitable tool or instrument is then inserted through slot 3 and against tongue 1, in the position shown by 1', and the tongue is forced upwardly and bent over to the position shown by 1, Fig. 4, and thus the cover 5 is securely and permanently locked in closed position on the container. WVhen the tongue 1 is bent to lock the cover the slot 3 remains unobstructed, and in the particular example illustrated, is used as a coin slot.

hen it is desired to open the container after it has been converted, the tongue I cannot be reached by a tool and it becomes necessary to so mutilate the container that the same becomes worthless as such and cannot therefore, be refilled and sold as an original container.

By means of the construction shown, atobacco box can be cheaply formed and when emptied can be utilized as a savings bank, or the like, and thus avoid the necessity of destroying or discarding it at the termina tion of its usefulness as an original container.

I have shown a construction which provides for only one locking tongue and slots therefor but a series of tongues with their attendant slots can be provided.

It is evident that various changes, modifications and variations might be restorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of my invention and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact disclosures hereof.

What I claim is 2-- LA container provided with .a hinged cover, a tongue depending from the side of said cover opposite thehinge point, said container provided with a slot adapted to receive said tongue, and also provided with an opening'below said slot through which said tongue can be bent upwardly within the box to plermanentlylocl: the cover in closed position, I

2. A container comprising a body and a cover originally free to open and close the body, said body and cover having means for permanently locking the cover in closed position embodying openings and a tongue,

said tongue adapted to be bent to extend into the interior of the container through one of the openings and to be then bent Within the container to final permanent cover-locking position by means inserted through the other opening.

' 3. An original package container comprising a body and a cover therefor free to move relatively withrespect to said body to open and close the same While said container is used as an original package, said body and cover embodying means for permanently locking the body and cover together to form a permanently closed receptacle after said container has served its purpose as-an original package, said means embodying an opening, a tongue, said tongue formed to be projected through said opening into the interior of the container, and means whereby the tongue can be bent within the box into permanent locking position to form a concealed interior lock between the cover and body. 7

JACOB M. HEASLEY. 

